Drie figuren rond een brandende offerzuil in een tempel 1759

Simon Fokke created this print, *Drie figuren rond een brandende offerzuil in een tempel* sometime in the 18th century. The image shows a classical scene, rendered with delicate lines and careful cross-hatching to create subtle tonal variations. The composition is arranged symmetrically, with a burning offering pillar at the center, around which three figures are grouped, creating a balanced yet dynamic arrangement. The engraving, with its linear precision, invites us to consider the underlying structures and systems of representation that Fokke employed. The semiotic system at play is clear: classical imagery, with its coded references to virtue, sacrifice, and divine favor, is presented through a visual language refined over centuries. But Fokke's work does not simply reiterate classical ideals. The presence of the burning pillar, around which the figures are arranged, acts as a focal point for the composition. In scrutinizing this work, we recognize that its structure embodies both aesthetic and cultural values, open to ongoing interpretation.